The rapture

Yes I believe rapture is a real event that will take place. Rapture and 2nd coming are two different and distinct events. Rapture could happen at any time. 2nd coming still has things that have to happen in order for Christ to come back.

I believe it will be pre-trib, as it the strongest evidence to support it being that. I don't just believe that because "I want to get out of the tribulation".

The idea of a rapture is based on 1 Thess. 4:17, "After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever". The literal translation being " those who remain alive snatched away in the air to meeting the Master to always be together.

What's interesting is that the resurrected don't go. They seem to just resurrect. I personally think we will meet Jesus, if we are alive, and then return to the restored Creation with Christ. What I always think is interesting is that Paul seems to think that he believes the second coming will occur during his lifetime. Let's return to Thess. "According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."

1) The Resurrection happens before this "whisk away". 2) This word, Parousia is used to mean an official visit, as in the Emperor or Governor coming to town. When this happened, the citizens of said town would go out to meet them and escort them into town. That's the image that Paul is trying to create. Jesus will come again, and the people of God are going to go welcome him.

Thus, I believe that when Jesus comes back, we will go meet him in the air as Lord of Earth, and escort him to Earth where the restoration of all things will happen.

I wrote a bunch of stuff but deleted it. More and more pre-tribulation, apocalyptic rapture doctrine does not at all seem to line up with a plain interpretation of the Scriptures using standard rules of verbal communication. I realize that I think I was Darby-ized in my interpretation of scripture and what seemed to be slam dunks was really just proof texts, much like people who say "See? The Bible says women are to obey their husbands, therefore you must..." Okay, now let's re-read that passage in the fulness of its context and see if you can still justify abuse. Probably not. Same with apocalyptic rapture doctrine.

I'm glad you said that Wes. I feel like that's kinda where I'm headed. I was reading something about the rapture and it suddenly hit me, "I don't know if I believe in the rapture anymore." And realized how it's mainly used in an escapist mindset that leads to a lot of fear

Now, I'll admit that because one group of believers have taken the concept and have done terrible things to it, that doesn't mean it's not true. But... I dunno where I'm going with this.

I think most of the end times scripture passages were written trying to merely grasp at what is in store because the actual thing is too great to put into mere words. So we might all be a little surprised to how it all unfolds.